Lawmakers look to finish Medicaid expansion bill

September 3, 2013 | AP Michigan lawmakers are looking to give final approval to a Medicaid expansion bill by day's end.

Gov. Rick Snyder secured a big victory last week when the state Senate voted to implement a key part of the federal health care law.

But the Republican-controlled chamber on Tuesday is expected to reconsider the issue of when the legislation should take effect. For newly eligible low-income residents counting on the medical coverage next year, it's the difference between waiting until late March instead of qualifying as early as Jan. 1.

The House is expected to send the legislation to Snyder's desk after receiving it.

In response to conservative critics, Snyder says Michigan's plan isn't a "generic" expansion of Medicaid and instead includes Republican-driven provisions that will need approval from the Obama administration.